RE: Military

Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007, 8:21 PM CDT
By Chris HayesUnion, MO --

A U.S. soldier found out online, that his son died back in the states. Sgt. Jeff Sutterer, who was on duty in Iraq, found out Monday morning. He woke up and checked his online messages -- one said Justin Sutterer R.I.P. Sgt Sutterer told us, "I said what are you talking about R.I.P. and he was like "Oh my god you don’t know?" He said, "Is this Justin’s Dad?" I said yeah, he said he was killed on Easter Sunday.”

17-year-old Justin Sutter died doing what he loved – racing motocross. Sutterer said, “The free spirit that he was, he was chasing a dream and he was just about there, almost there.” Justin’s classmates remember him for his passion to ride. One classmate told us, “I wrote rest in peace Sutterer number 307 because it was his number in motocross.” Though Sgt Sutterer says he’s lately tried talking his son out of racing he believes it was his sons calling. “He died doing what he loved to do, I have to say that, he loved the sport.”

Sgt. Sutterer said when his family got the call from his wife about an emergency they first thought HE died. He has 15 days to be with his family before he must return to duty.